Toy or amusement device



Feb. 4, 1941. D. ROTH 2,230,814

TOY 0R AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Jan. 29, 1940 INVENTOR flan 305% Patented Feb. 4, 1941 t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY a AMUSEMENT DEVICE Dan Roth, Yonkers, N. Y. Application January 20, 1940,"Seria1N0. 314,762 4 Claims (01. 2725-1021) 'This invention relates to toys or amusement devices and is herein disclosed in some detail as embodied in a figure adapted to serve as a competitive game.

Children, and even grown people, make a sport of throwing a ball to hit an object and enjoy the sport more if the ball rings a bell or knocks an object over, or causes some analogous event. The sport is still more enjoyable if it is humorous and competitive.

According to the present invention all these enjoyable features may be embodied in a simple structure, easy to build, cheaply produced in a large way, and rugged enough to withstand the abuse of strong children.

In the form shown, a comic head with an open mouth carries a tongue so that, when an object strikes the tongue or presses upon it, the tongue releases a marble or ball with slides down a transparent tube. The tube may simulate a gullet, and may hold any desired number of the balls, and be provided with an open end to deliver the balls for reuse.

In the form shown the head is that of a fat man, so that the game is to feed the fat man.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a front view of the device.

Figure 2 is a side view, largely in section.

In the form of the invention illustrated, pressure on the tongue [0 in the open mouth ll of a comical face 12, causes the tongue III to swing downwardly or backwardly around a pivot 13 suitably mounted as a cross-shaft in the head l4 behind the face l2.

When the tongue l0 thus swings, as when struck by a thrown ball l5, it swings backwardly the long depending arm [6 which is fastened to the tongue so that the arm I6 withdraws a bent-over end I! from beneath a marble or lighter ball [8 which it has been supporting in a tube I 9.

As the arm l6 swings backward withdrawing the end l1, an opening 20 in the end swings beneath the ball I8 allowing the ball to drop through a lower tube 2| which at 22 takes the form of a transparent tube 23.

At the same time an upward extension 24 of the end II pushes a supporting arm 25 under the next higher ball l8 in the tube l9, it extending for this purpose through an opening 26 in the wall of the tube l9. Thus only one ball l8 drops at a time into the transparent front tube 23, enabling successive players to keep track of When any desired number of balls [8 are in the tube 23, they may be removed by pushing 15 upward a release arm 21, shown as at the back of the body 28 of the device. The upward pushing of the arm 21 swings it around a pivot 29 carried on ears 30 fastened to a solid back of the tube 23, and swings downwardly and backwardly a closure 3| at the bottom of the tube, so that any desired number of balls [8 may be withdrawn.

In the form shown, each ball I8 as it drops into the tube 23 hits the projecting tongue extension 32 of the pivoted tongue 33 of a bell 34 shown as on the back of the tube 2|, thus adding to the attraction of the game.

In the form shown the face l2 has ears 35 and a turned up nose 36 and teeth 3'! on the upper jaw and teeth 38 on the lower jaw 39 which is shown as moving with the tongue III.

In the form shown the lower jaw also includes a fixed member 40, shown as standing for the neck 4| of the face l2, and carrying a flexible fiap 42 which may be pushed aside to insert balls l8 within the funnel-like top 43 of the tube 19, the funnel top receptacle accom- 'modating any desired number of balls I8.

In the form shown the funnel 43 includes a or other material of the tubes. The tube l9 may be likewise held by a screw 5| in cars 52.

The figure may stand on simulated shoes 53 and be supported by a metal bracket 54 hinged to one of the ears and kept from sliding by a rubber sleeve 55 adapted to rest. upon the floor, and by an upward arm 56 adapted to lie against the back of the tube 23, for example.

The metal bell crank I6 may be integral with 50 the metal arm 51 to which the tongue in is suitably held, and the balance of the backwardly inclined bell crank I6 is such that after releasing a ball I8 its end l'l swings back to hold the next ball l8 as it drops'down. 55

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A figure having a mouth resembling an animal and including a movable tongue, a receptacle below the tongue for holding balls, a pivot on which the tongue swings as it moves, an arm attached to the tongue and normally holding a ball, and adapted to be swung by depressing the tongue to release the ball, and a tube behind the mouth and having a transparent face in the position of a gullet through which the released ball falls.

2. A figure having a mouth resembling an animal and including a movable tongue, a -re ceptacle below the tongue for holding balls, a pivot on which the tongue swings as it moves, an arm attached to the tongue and'normally holding a ball and adapted to be swung by depressing the tongue to release the ball, and a'tube behind the mouth and having a transparent .face in the position of a gullet through which the released ball falls, and a' bell rung by the falling ball.

3. A figure having a month resembling an animal and including a movable tongue, a receptacle below the tongue for holding balls, a pivot on which the tongue swings as it moves, an arm attached to the tongue and normally holding a ball and adapted to be swung by depressing the tongue to release the ball, and a tube behind the mouth and having a transparent face in the position of a gullet through which the released ball falls, and a. releasable device for holding balls in the tube.

4. A figure having a mouth resembling an animal and including a movable tongue, a receptacle below the tongue for holding balls, a pivot on which the tongue swings as it moves, an arm attached to the tongue and. normally holding a ball and adapted to be swung by depressing the tongue to release the ball, and a tube behind the mouth and having a transparent face in the position of la gullet through which the released ball falls, and a bell rung by the falling ball, and a releasable device for holding balls in the tube.

DAN ROTH. 

